Physalis philadelphica Lam.
Family: Solanaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

Physalis aequata Jacq. f. ex Nees
P. ixocarpa Hornem, misapplied

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

tomatillo groundcherry

Primary Disseminule Types

fruit with or without attached calyx (not likely to be dispersed directly to grape bunches), seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Disseminule a yellow or purple berry ± enclosed in a papery husk (enlarged calyx) with numerous seeds. Husk loose, ovoid, 20–35+ mm long, green (drying brown) with 10 darker green or purple ribbed veins.

Seed ± reniform to obovate in outline, typically notched along margin where hilum occurs, strongly compressed, cross-section narrowly elliptic to fusiform, 1.7–2.5(3) mm long x 1.5–2.2 mm wide x 0.5–1 mm thick. Surface sparkly under magnification, may be dull or rough when dried bits of pericarp remain; otherwise, surface is a maze of minute undulating ridges, yellowish.

Hilum marginal, in notch, elliptic to lanceolate, ± sunken especially at the larger end of the scar, ± same color as testa to whitish, (0.5)0.8–1.2 mm long.

Similar Species

Compare to Similar Species of Lycium & Physalis and Similar Species of Solanum.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI